Claddagh wedding rings are probably the most popular type of Celtic jewelry that exists in society today. For this reason, many people think that the Claddagh is all about marriage. However this isn’t the case at all. The Claddagh symbol is a symbol that represents more than just the foundation of marriage. It also represents more than just a symbol to be placed on jewelry and shown off to the world.

The Claddagh is a symbol that represents the most important aspects of life to the people who believe in this symbol. It represents:

• Love. We often think of this as the traditional kind of romantic love that people share in a marriage. However the Claddagh can symbolize greater types of love such as love for your family, love for your community or even love for the Earth.
• Fidelity. Again, we think of this as loyalty to a partner in marriage. However the Claddagh can symbolize fidelity to yourself and your beliefs, to the community that you grew up with or to anything that you desire to be loyal to for the rest of your life.
• Friendship. People who get Claddagh wedding rings want to honor the fact that they are not just lovers but also best friends. However the hands on the Claddagh can represent all types of friendship and not just romantic love.

A Claddagh symbol may be worn on jewelry. It may be a tattoo. It may be a piece of artwork that you frame and hang in your home. It may represent marriage but it also may represent your general values in life. Don’t limit the Claddagh to less than it really is!

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